“They Were My Family”: Gaza Paramedic Challenges Israel’s Account After Deadly Strike
Munther Abed is the sole survivor of a deadly Israeli strike on a convoy of Gaza emergency workers. Still visibly shaken, he recalls diving to the floor of his ambulance as gunfire erupted, killing his two colleagues instantly.
“I’m the only survivor who saw what happened to my colleagues,” he says, scrolling through photos of fallen medics on his phone—friends he calls his “second family.”
The March 23rd attack claimed the lives of 15 humanitarian workers, including eight Palestinian Red Crescent medics, six Civil Defence responders, and one staff member from UNRWA. Israeli forces alleged the convoy moved “suspiciously” toward them without coordination or emergency lights, but Munther strongly disputes that claim.
“All our lights were on—external and internal,” he insists. “You could clearly tell these were emergency vehicles. We weren’t a threat. We were there to save lives.”
“Shot at, Arrested, and Interrogated”
According to Munther, their ambulance was part of a coordinated response to early morning reports of casualties on the outskirts of Rafah. The Israeli military reportedly opened fire around 5:00 a.m. Soon after, Munther says, he was pulled from the wreckage by soldiers, blindfolded, and interrogated for 15 hours before being released.
The Israeli Defense Forces maintain that nine militants, including a Hamas operative involved in the October 7 attacks, were killed in the incident. However, none of those names appear on the list of the 15 confirmed dead emergency workers. Israel has not provided further evidence.
“They say our ambulances were used by militants. That’s a lie,” Munther says. “We are not fighters—we are medics. That’s all we’ve ever done.”
Bodies Found in Shallow Graves
It took a full week before international agencies could access the site. When they arrived, they found the responders’ bodies buried in sand next to their destroyed vehicles.
Sam Rose, acting director of UNRWA’s Gaza office, described the scene as “an apparent violation of international humanitarian law.”
“These were aid workers. They were left buried in the sand. There must be accountability,” Rose said, calling for a full, independent investigation.
Grief, Outrage, and a Plea for Justice
The funerals, held in Khan Younis, were scenes of mourning and anger. One bereaved father said his son was “killed in cold blood.” Another called the attack an “execution.”
The UN reports that over 1,060 healthcare workers have died in Gaza since the conflict began. Israel has yet to commit to any investigation into the March 23 attack.
For Munther, survival has become a mission. “If I wasn’t there to witness it, who would tell their story?” he asks. Clutching prayer beads, he vows to speak for those who no longer can.
“They weren’t just medics. They were brothers. And the world deserves to know what happened to them.
